NEWS DESK Coach for breakfast
Fagan in concert
FOOTBALL coach Alastair Clarkson will share some of his sporting and business insights over breakfast at Mt Eliza. Clarkson will speak about the challenges he has dealt with throughout his renowned career. One of the AFL’s most respected modern-day coaches, he is best known for leading Hawthorn to four premierships in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Recognised for his innovation, leadership philosophies and ability to change the way AFL football is played, Clarkson is a passionate, people-focussed person with an interest in the community. He draws on his educational background, including a Master of Business Administration from Monash University, to articulate the similarities between achieving and maintaining peak performance in sport and success in the business world. The breakfast presentation is on Tuesday 6 December, at the Ranelagh Club, 3 Rosserdale Cres in Mt Eliza, 7-8.45am. Fee: $47.25. Bookings essential: mornpen.vic.gov.au/alastairclarkson
GUITARIST Matthew Fagan, above, will perform at St Johns Church, 23 King St, Flinders, at the Guitarra & Festive Guitar CD Launch, 3-4:30pm, Sunday 4 December. Doors open 2.30pm. The concert is also launching the Festive Guitar CD as well as a fundraiser for the church, with $5 from each ticket going towards the restoration fund. Tickets are $30 full/ $25-concession, or $15 Under 16s and $50 family (two adults and two children). Details: Kellie, call 0438 881 985, email: mjb2fagan@gmail.com or trybooking.com/NVLV
Crime writer CRIME writer and former assistant Victoria Police Commissioner Bill Robertson will be at the Mornington and Hastings libraries, 6 December, to talk about his second novel, Fox. Fox is an action thriller about Colin Fox, a member of the stolen generation, who, despite having an extremely traumatic childhood, becomes a specialist SAS officer. Murder, bikie gangs, outback boxing tents, false imprisonment and a female stalker are all part of the plot. Bookings essential: ourlibrary.mornpen.vic.gov.au or call 5950 1820.
Senior drivers’ expo SENIORS are invited to a free drivers’ expo at Mornington Community Theatre, Wilsons Rd, Mornington, 9.30am, Saturday 3 December. They will receive a free driving assessment in their own car by a qualified instructor, free roadworthy checks, and a free road rule book, as well as a certificate of attendance. Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Details: Call 59864621 or 0419 398 695.
Fire prevention works
Training for new year’s surfing MEMBERS of the Disabled Surfers’ Association Mornington Peninsula donned wetsuits and took to the water at Point Leo to practice and improve their skills in preparation for next year’s three events. The skill improvement morning was conducted by Ash Gardner, Stewart Lockie and Gary Morton, with Jenny Anglis-Goodall volunteering as the group’s “crash test dummy”. A new surfboard for event days was also trialled. Surf day events will be held by the DSAMP at Point Leo 11am-3pm on Saturday 14 January and Saturday 4 March. Details: Jenny AnglissGoodall, call 0417 453 669. A third event is being held at Inverloch 11am2pm Saturday 11 February. Details: Stuart Yates, 0411 476 478. For more details about the DSAMP or to register as a volunteer of surfing participant go to disabledsurfers.org/vic/morning-peninsulabranch/
Sports for all MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will celebrate International Day of People with Disability by holding a come-and-try sports day and miniexpo at Civic Reserve, Mornington, 10am–1pm Wednesday 7 December. International Day of People with Disability aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. Activities on the day will include tennis, gymnastics, soccer, netball, footy, dance, table tennis and SWISH (blind table tennis). A Marveloo, a portable, fully accessible toilet with adjustable change table and hoist, will also be available. The toilet is part of a campaign by the shire’s all abilities consultative committee to see similar permanent toilets around the peninsula. Refreshments available. Bookings at: mornpen.vic.gov.au/allabilitiesday, spcd.admin@ mornpen.vic.gov.au or 5950 1099.
PARKS Victoria is conducting its annual summer fuel reduction program to maintain fuel breaks and fire access tracks, slash grass and remove weeds on public land. Prevention work is being done in 16 parks on the Mornington Peninsula and around Western Port. These include Mornington Peninsula, Point Nepean and Arthurs Seat state parks, Bald Hill and Buckley nature conservation reserves, Coolart Heritage Reserve, Crib Point and Tyabb bushland reserves, Devilbend and Warneet natural features reserves, French Island National Park, Kangerong and Main Ridge nature conservation reserves, Langwarrin and The Pines flora and fauna reserves, and Tubbarubba Reserve. “Fire can spread quickly and our work to reduce fuel loads is an important part of managing the landscape in urban areas,” Parks’ senior manager fire and emergency operations Anthony Maxwell said. “It’s important for residents to understand that we cut grass when it is nearly ‘cured’ – almost dried out – to avoid regrowth during the hot, dry months.”
The Western Port Whisperer
THE Whisperer received a huge shock when Mrs Whisperer was driving down Mornington- Tyabb Road the other morning and noticed a speed reduction from 100km/h to 80km/h. Fortunately, she has a beautiful brake foot like Rhonda, and was able to slow down to match the new signs. On the way home in the afternoon, Mrs Whisperer was tooted for going too slow, because the new signs had been replaced with the old signs and we were allowed to travel at 100km/h again. The Whisperer can’t help but point out the irony of VicRoads conducting a period of consultation
with the public about speed limits, when clearly the change will be inevitable. The Whisperer is not necessarily anti change, but wishes public consultation would happen as part of the decision process, not just to make the organisation look good. *** MRS Whisperer is currently going through a mid- life crisis. This isn’t necessarily a problem, except for the fact she has had about seven of these events in the last decade. In her ultimate wisdom, she has decided to go on a fitness frenzy and wants us to go walking more. You know a midlife crisis is out
of hand when she buys us matching John Howard inspired tracksuits. Needless to say, if you see a couple walking around the Western Port region wearing matching tracksuits, The Whisperer has lost his mind and Mrs Whisperer has been taken over by her mid-life crisis. *** ACCORDING to reports, the Eagle has landed on Arthurs Seat and will be open very soon. The Whisperer was searching through the garage the other day and found eleven old sets of binoculars. He has decided to donate these, and eleven tickets to ride the Eagle
Skylift to the shire councillors. It is hoped they will use these to not only take in views of Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne city skyline, but also, they will focus their binoculars on Western Port Bay. When the councillors look over here, they will see no major tourist drawcard, a lack of basic public infrastructure across the board, and potholes and cracks in footpaths that big, they may not need the binoculars to see them. *** THE whisper is the Western Port Festival has a new mascot for this coming year. His name is Marine Man and he is Western Port’s newest superhero.
While The Whisperer is yet to meet this new superhero in our region, he wishes to confirm that he does not wear Marine Man pyjamas, but has certainly heard several whispers which imply that Marine Man wears Western Port Whisperer pyjamas. Nonetheless, good luck to Marine Man in his quest to get the Western Port region noticed. If The Whisperer’s experiences are anything to go by, you will need all the luck you can get. *** Heard a Whisper? Let the Whisperer know: westernportwhisperer@gmail.com
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